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Tropico 5

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Learn about Tropico 5 farming and mining: Corn Farm ($400/load), Pineapple Farm ($900/load), Coffee Farm ($1300/load), and Sugar Plantation ($800/load).

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Learn about Tropico 5 farming and mining: Corn Farm ($400/load), Pineapple Farm ($900/load), Coffee Farm ($1300/load), and Sugar Plantation ($800/load).

Walkthrough
  1. 1
    Understand that your island's resources are the foundation of your economy.
  2. 2
    Farm land for food and mine minerals to sell.
  3. 3
    Refine some products into more valuable goods.
  4. 4
    Consult the following details for each farm type:
  5. 5
    Corn Farm:
    • Sale Price: $400/load ($2000 per full 5-load teamster cart).
  6. 6
    The Eye Says: Tolerant of most conditions, grows fast.
  7. 7
    Meaning: Grows almost anywhere except very bad soil like beaches.
  8. 8
    Notes: Not an export crop; teamsters only haul surplus. Consider switching to cash crops if there's a surplus. A fully staffed farm can feed more than the manual's 30-40 people, potentially closer to 60 Tropicans per farm if teamsters haul efficiently. Avoid crowding farms to prevent reduced output.
  9. 9
    Pineapple Farm:
    • Sale Price: $900/load ($4500/cart).
  10. 10
    The Eye Says: Needs good soil, plenty of rain, and decent drainage.
  11. 11
    Meaning: Suitable for small hillsides with runoff on the windward side of the island.
  12. 12
    Notes: Can be used for food if other food sources are insufficient. People will eat pineapples if they live near the farm. Can be used as "cannin' fodder" for canned pineapples ($1500/load). Excellent when used with sugar plantations and coffee farms (see Sugar Plantation notes).
  13. 13
    Coffee Farm:
    • Sale Price: $1300/load ($6500/cart).
  14. 14
    The Eye Says: Tolerates fair soil, needs high elevation, plenty of rain, and good drainage. Grows slowly.
  15. 15
    Meaning: Rewards players who don't flatten terrain or who set rugged terrain during game setup.
  16. 16
    Notes: Best "cannin' fodder" item. Most lucrative when refined. Can be refined into Freeze-Dried Folger's Crystals for about $3000/load. Part of the "chain of command" farming with Sugar and Pineapples.
  17. 17
    Sugar Plantation:
    • Sale Price: $800/load ($4000/cart).
  18. 18
    The Eye Says: Needs good soil and consistently wet ground (swampy).
  19. 19
    Meaning: Use flat or slightly depressed lowland at sea level.
  20. 20
    Notes: The start of the rum industry. A pure cash crop with a good export price. If focused on rum production, seek trade delegations for better rum rates.
  21. 21
    Understand "chain of command farming":
    • Coffee needs high ground with good drainage.
  22. 22
    Pineapples need lower ground with good drainage.
  23. 23
    Sugar needs swampy, low-lying areas.
  24. 24
    By placing coffee farms at the top of a hill, pineapple groves on a lower terrace, and sugar plantations by the sea on the windward side, you can optimize production from all three.
Tips
  • Consult the (minimap (the small circular map in the bottom-left corner of your screen)) (a small map usually in the corner of the HUD (Heads-Up Display)) to identify terrain types like hillsides and lowlands.
  • Pay attention to weather patterns to determine the windward side of the island for optimal water runoff management.
  • Consider refining crops like coffee into higher-value products.
  • Diversify your crops based on terrain and market demand.

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